Kohli could become the third Indian cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar (1997) and MS Dhoni (2007) to receive the coveted award.

India skipper Virat Kohli has been recommended for the Khel Ratna. @Getty

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli is in line to receive for this year’s Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India’s highest honour in sports, after the awards committee recommended his name to the Sports Ministry, according to reports.

Kohli could thus become the third Indian cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar (1997) and MS Dhoni (2007) to receive the coveted award, given by the Indian government to recognise achievements in sport.

The other Indian sportspersons to be recommended to the Ministry are weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and badminton player Kidambi Srikanth.

Kohli’s recommendation has come as recognition for his record-breaking feats as a batsman across formats and for helping take the Indian cricket team to No 1 in Tests and ODIs (they are currently at second place). In April, the BCCI had recommended Kohli’s name for the Khel Ratna, having earlier done so in 2016. The Khel Ratna is bestowed upon the country’s most outstanding sportspersons over a period of four years.

Kohli, 29, is ranked No 1 in Tests and ODIs. He is the most successful batsman in Tests this year, with 879 runs from eight games and fourth-highest in ODIs with 749 from nine games.

Editorial team of CricketCountry.

First Published on September 17, 2018 3:16 PM ISTLast updated on September 17, 2018 3:16 PM IST